The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) can’t agree on where the men’s Asia Cup will be held next year. This week, Jay Shah, who is the secretary of the BCCI and the president of the Asian Cricket Council, said that India won’t go to Pakistan to play in the continental tournament. He also said that the Asia Cup will be held in a neutral location.

In a strong response, the PCB hinted that the decision could affect Pakistan’s ability to play in the ODI World Cup, which is set to take place in India next year. But the PCB isn’t the only one to give a strong response to Jay Shah’s comments. A number of former Pakistan cricketers, including ex-captain Wasim Akram, have done the same.

The former captain of Pakistan said that India “cannot tell” Pakistan how to play cricket. He also said that Shah should have talked to PCB chairman Ramiz Raja in person if he had any concerns.

What did Wasim Akram say?

“Badi zabardast statement di hai cricket board ne. India can’t dictate ki Pakistan kaise cricket khele. Aur Pakistan me cricket bhi 10-15 saal baad shuru hui hai. I’m an ex-cricketer, sportsperson, I don’t know what’s happening on political front. But people to people contact zaroori hai. Agar aapko kehna hi tha Jay Shah sahab, toh aap kam se kam hamaare chairman ko phone karte, meeting bithaate Asian Council ki. Aap apna idea dete, uspe discussion hoti. (It was a brilliant statement from our cricket board. India can’t dictate how Pakistan play their cricket. Pakistan have started hosting teams after 10-15 years now. I’m an ex-cricketer, sportsperson, I don’t know what’s happening on political front. But communication is important. If Jay Shah had to say something, he should have phone-called the PCB chairman, there should have been a meeting of the Asian Cricket Council. There should have been a discussion),” Wasim Akram said on A Sports.

“You can’t just stand up and say we are not travelling. Jabki award kiya hai poore council ne Pakistan ko Asia Cup. (Pakistan were awarded the Asia Cup) That’s not fair,” Akram further said.

What’s next for the Asia Cup 2023?

Earlier, the great Pakistani bowler Waqar Younis said that India “wants to hurt” Pakistan. He also said that a country’s honor is more important than playing cricket.

Roger Binny, the new president of the BCCI, has now repeated what Shah said by saying that the board cannot decide on its own to go to Pakistan.

In 2012/13, Pakistan went to India for three ODIs and two T20Is. This was the last time that both teams played each other in a bilateral series. The last time India went to Pakistan was in 2006. During that trip, the two teams played three Tests and five one-day games.

Due to political tensions, the two teams only play each other at continental (Asia Cup) and world (ICC) tournaments. India and Pakistan last played each other in the Asia Cup Super 4 match. They will play each other again on Sunday in Group 2 of the T20 World Cup in Melbourne.